Opening Night

This session will hold a mix of activities in order to get to know each other better, introduce newcomers and receive some thought-provoking input. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy old friendships and start building new ones! And we’ll do our best to add some real Dutch treats to the programme!

Worship and Prayer

The worship and prayer is a special time and not to be missed. It’s when the most significant business of CEVMA is done, with God and each other. A time during which we ‘tank up on grace’, share our challenges, joys and blessings and receive mutual encouragement for the work we are called to to. But most importantly, it’s a time when we can celebrate God’s Love and experience our unique bond in Jesus Christ!

Bible Talks

The Bible Talks have always been a highlight of CEVMA and an important aspect of our conference. This year will be no different as together we seek to learn more about the One we serve, how we keep Him at the centre of our lives and work.

CEVMA Networking

This has become a regular feature of our conference, one looked forward to and much anticipated. It’s an opportunity to share news about your organisation, projects and objectives. Sign up for a slot (approximately 7 minutes) at registration and come prepared with a show reel, clip or PowerPoint presentation, if you so desire – the time is yours.

Plenary sessions

The plenary sessions offer valuable insights in the ever changing world of international media. Speakers will discuss all kinds of topics related to our conference theme and cater to our needs and challenges as media professionals. There are also plenty of opportunities to hear from colleagues. You’ll find inspiration and encouragement for the work God has given you.

Outing

This year’s outing features a trip to the ‘Fuchskaute’, an extinct volcano and, at 657.3 m above sea level, the highest mountain of the Westerwald and the county of Westerwaldkreis in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Dr. Krish Kandiah

Krish is the Founding Director of Home for Good, a young charity seeking to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Together with his wife, Miriam he co-authored a catalytic book “Home for Good” which blends the Bible’s teaching on God’s heart for vulnerable children and inspiring practical stories. Krish is in demand as a speaker both nationally and internationally. He regularly speaks at larger conferences, corporate events and is a regular broadcaster on radio and television. Krish is an ambassador for Tearfund. He has a passion for engaging with contemporary culture theologically and is a prolific writer/blogger. Krish has authored 11 books including the award winning publication ‘Paradoxology’, explores why Christianity was never meant to be simple and “God is Stranger.” Krish has been providing theological and strategic consultancy to a wide range of organisations including: World Vision UK, The Baptist Union, Redcliffe College and Bible Society. Krish holds degrees in Chemistry, Missiology and Theology. His PhD is from Kings College London and he currently holds faculty positions at Portland Seminary, Regent College, Vancouver and Regents Park College, Oxford University.

Wolf-Dieter Kretchmer

Wolf-Dieter Kretschmer (60) is married to Antje and the father of four children. After studying Theology at London School of Theology he went on to complete a postgraduate course in Film & TV Studies at Middlesex University. For 25 years he led the TV department at ERF Medien in Wetzlar, Germany. In mid-2015 he accepted a new challenge as the head of the editorial team that majors in theology for ERF’s radio, TV and Internet programming. In his free time he blogs on leadership topics (www.leitenundleben.de).

Since mid-2016, Wolf-Dieter has spearheaded the development of a system by which ERF tries to classify and quantify the spiritual impact of its programming on viewers, listeners and Internet users. It is called ‘die Lebenswendeskala’ (‘The Life-Change Scale.’) This also feeds into a new editorial strategy of ‘Evangelistische Zuspitzung’ (‘Evangelistic Build-up’), so that ERF content can better motivate people to make such life-change decisions, including the first decision to become a Christ-follower for some; and to also help them in the further development of their relationship with God. At CEVMA 2018, Wolf-Dieter will be speaking about the implementation of this two-prong strategy.

Ingo Marx

Ingo Marx has been working in television for 20 years. He started as a quiz writer for the production company Endemol Entertainment and then switched to ERF Medien. There he is now Head of Television and thus responsible for ERF’s TV programming output. He is also a host on the ERF program, ‘Gott sei Dank’ (‘Thank God’.) Over the years Ingo has written various books portraying the moving life stories of numerous people from all walks of life.

In 2014 he completed the ‘Storytelling Masterclass’ of Uwe Walter (Waltermedia.) In the process, he discovered the ‘Hero’s Journey’ storytelling model – and has since then been conveying it to all incoming program producers at ERF Medien. The model is not only a useful tool for structuring stories, Ingo says, but also helps one to understand one’s own life story better. And best of all: ‘Hero’s Journey’ actually goes to the heart of the Gospel.

Tanja Rinsland

Good stories can change lives! That is the conviction of TV editorial producer Tanja Rinsland. At ERF Medien she is responsible for the editorial department dealing with biographies and experiential accounts. Together with her team, she likes to explore new forms of storytelling in non-fictional media. There is a special focus on formats for social media platforms and the development of a tri-medial editorial department (radio, TV, web).

Born and raised in a missionary family ministering to the inner-city needy in Sao Paulo, ‘German-Brazilian’ Tanja got to witness – and be a part of – much real-life drama from a young age on, plus quite a bit of street theatre, the start of a lifelong passion for storytelling. In her spare time, she enjoys patchwork quilting or trying out her newest hobby, sport climbing. She is married to Kai, an editorial music producer for radio.

Naomi van Dooren

Naomi’s passion for music was passed down from her parents. Her first bed not being a cradle but a banana box in a tipi in 1973. As the first of five daughters she was born to an American mother and a German father who came to faith as hippies during the Jesus People movement in California the night before she was born. In 1975 they went to Germany as missionaries. Naomi was raised on the Bible, a whole lot of live music and no TV, out of which emerged her unique and distinctive music career.

Naomi’s concerts are enhanced by various short films that accompany her songs to highlight their meaning, taking her audience on an unforgettable emotional journey. Her songs are filled with depth and passion as she sings of the highs and lows of life, and finding hope and fulfillment through it all. Honestly, humbly, lovingly and sometimes fiercely – she sings about matters of the heart.

Conny Klement, Sandpainter

Kornelia (‚Conny‘) Klement grew up in a small village in west-central Germany and learned hand-weaving as a trade. As a young woman she married Johannes, a missionary and pastor. Their Christian service brought them and their three children to a variety of assignments in Germany, Switzerland and Brazil.

Conny loves to tell people stories from the Bible. That’s why she took up sand-painting nearly a decade ago. She moves fine sand with her hands around an illuminated glass pane, shaping images in order to bring to life the passages being read. Conny has had the opportunity to perform at a wide range of events and locales throughout Germany and worldwide.

Magnus Wacinski

Magnus Wacinski is 37, married, and from Berlin. There he works as Senior Producer and Head of Post-Production at Studio 71, the multi-channel, multi-platform network digital arm of the ProSiebenSat1 Media group. Studio 71 specializes in content development and production for web-video and social media internationally. Magnus has produced for very successful branded entertainment formats like CokeTV (GWA Effie Award), Fear The Walking Dead (for Amazon Prime), Transformers, and many more. Last year, in the run-up to the German national election, he produced widely watched and acclaimed web productions where four popular YouTubers could interview Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz up close and personal.

Richard Steinbring

Richard Steinbring, born in 1954, is married, the father of 4 children, with 3 grandchildren. Since 1982 he has worked for Wycliff Germany. The discovery that he had a good feel for languages ​​and that Wycliff accepted him for its linguistic and translation work, meant the opening of a whole new world for Richard. He worked for about eight years in the Papua Highlands of Indonesia, in speech analysis and Bible translation. From 1994 to 2000, he headed Wycliff Germany, and after that became its public relations officer. Richard will show us the process Wycliff goes through in order to engage with a new culture and language, in order to build fresh bridges for the Gospel.

Chris Cuhls

From his base in Cologne, Germany, Chris Cuhls works as an Event director for large companies worldwide. In addition, he advises organizations on their live communication concepts. All work that he enjoys immensely.

His events work is about communicating strong ideas and effective messages. Chris wraps these into special moments – to captivate audiences and to serve the brands. He loves bringing events to a focal point and working in a team. In his work, he strives to ensure smooth processes and create effective atmospheres. In the process, Chris seeks to maintain a vision for the big picture while also keeping an eye on the details. Excellence and relevance are his watchwords. Chris’s career background includes working on TV shows like the long-running ‘Wetten, dass…’ [‘Bet you can(‘t)…’] and hundreds of corporate events. Chris got his university degree in media management, after which he worked for a Bertelsmann music label for three years. He has also published a book: ‘Events wirkungsvoll inszenieren’ (‘Effectively staged events’.)

Crawford Telfer

Crawford Telfer has worked in Television since he was 18. Starting as a junior cameraman at the BBC’s Television Centre in London he worked on a wide variety of programmes including period costume drama, light entertainment, features, current affairs and children’s drama. After 5 years he moved to BBC Bristol in the west of England, and for 10 years was cameraman in both studios and on location throughout the UK. Productions ranged from large multi camera shoots such as sports to single camera shooting including some wildlife camerawork.

After 15 years with the BBC, and highly appreciative of the superb training he received there, he resigned to fulfil a clear call to work with the fledgling Christian Television Association of which he was one of several founding members. In his new role as Director of Programmes he was responsible for the CTA’s output, producing multi camera events, documentaries and dramas which, working with lower budgets, he often shot and directed himself. Filming in over 55 countries provided many experiences of God’s faithfulness in often difficult situations. Although officially retired, Crawford is still travelling an filming for the CTA, and thoroughly enjoying it.

Jay Moussa-Mann

Jay Moussa-Mann is half-English and half Turkish- Cypriot. She grew up in Turkey where she later was involved in making Christian TV programs for Kanal Hayat, creating music videos and documentaries that share the message of the Gospel. She has been composing music and writing songs since she was 10 and got her first guitar. Since then she has gone on to write many worship songs in Turkish and has written a feature film musical based on the story of Ruth in the Bible. Jay currently lives in the cold North East of the UK with her husband Kevin.

CEVMA

CEVMA is a community of committed Christians in film, television, graphic arts and new media from all across Europe, sharing experiences and encouraging one another.